It could be French, Spanish, Chinese, German, Hindi, Paakantyi. Name any kind of language and if you try to learn it, chances are you'll start thinking in it. What is this odd trick of mental linguistics? There is definitely a psychology behind this change in thought pattern, but it doesn't appear to have an exact term.
Cognitive Psychology & The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
Thinking in another language and the study thereof falls within the psychological category of cognitive research. In this branch of psychology is a highly debated theory known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. The idea is that the languages we speak actually make us think differently.
What do you think about that? If we think differently, wouldn't that mean we also act differently? There's a very interesting article about all this by Aneta Pavlenko in Psychology Today. The article points out that the debate about the Sapir-Whorf theory actually warped its definition.
The original theory proposes that knowing more than one language is a useful tool, but it makes the distinction that language is not our only form of thinking. That makes sense to me. I know I think visually at times and I can also remember the way something smells. The article in Psychology Today goes on to discuss whether thinking in a different language can make us do things differently, or even make us do things at all.
Walking Out Of Spanish Class, I'd Greet My English Friends In Spanish
Did Spanish really make me do something different, or did I just struggle to change the mental processes? Hmmmm. Makes you wonder.
And in case anyone is also wondering, the friends I greeted in Spanish used to look at me like I had lost my mind. Except for the ones coming out of a different Spanish classroom. Then we'd be right on key.
It's All Happening Again So Let's Stretch The Learning Curve
The whole reason I thought of writing about this subject is the reoccurrence of it in my life right now. I've been lending a hand to an almost exclusive Spanish speaking community. Fooled you with the French title, didn't I?
The thing is for us there's a kind of opposite effect. We get very comfortable communicating with each other, then we accidentally slip back into our native tongue. I should be honest and say the Hispanic project leaders do. My Spanish isn't good enough to slip back into English anyway. It is getting better though and starting to come back to me.
Is Steemit Helping To Break Down Babylon?
But wouldn't you say that by bringing people who represent and speak languages from around the world, that Steemit is helping to tear down Babylon? You know that famous tower where our greed caused the split into thousands of languages. People could no longer communicate or relate to one another.
Did you know that Steemit has its own Curation Team?
That's right we do! Have you been to a post in another language and noticed the toggle option that appears? You may not have because we only have English, Spanish, Russian, French, and Italian so far.
Interested in learning more about this service? You can email translate@steemit.com or visit the post by @steemitblog to get the whole scoop.
Do You Speak A Second Language Well & Want To Join A Great Project? Get In Touch With Milkbox On Their Discord Channel -> https://discord.gg/4yyRCxB
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